Low-dose methotrexate to treat mycosis fungoides: a retrospective study in 69 patients.

BACKGROUND

Although low-dose methotrexate has been used to treat mycosis fungoides for many years, documentation is very limited.

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to review our experience with methotrexate in the treatment of 69 patients with patch/plaque and tumor stage mycosis fungoides observed for up to 201 months.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study. Data are presented in terms of response rates and time to treatment failure.

RESULTS

The greatest number of patients (60) had patch/plaque stage T2 disease (>/=10% skin involved). Of these, 7 (12%) achieved complete remission and 13 (22%) achieved partial remission for a total response rate of 20 of 60 (33%). The median time to treatment failure was 15 months. Only 1 of 7 patients with tumor stage disease responded. Side effects caused treatment failure in 6 (9%) of the total cohort of 69 patients.

CONCLUSION

Low-dose methotrexate may be of value in the treatment of a subset of patients with patch/plaque mycosis fungoides resistant to other therapies.